Another Fruitless Saturday

Rainworth’s poor start to the season has seen them at the wrong end of the table and after today’s game that is becoming a cause for concern.

Of the three goals conceded, the first owed much to the linesman’s interpretation of ‘offside’, whilst the second was yet another addition to the ‘soft goal’ collection. In fairness the third was a result of the best move of the match and would have deserved to win any match.

It was Rainworth who had the first effort on goal in the match, but Phil Buxton’s long range effort in the third minute was well over. That was quickly followed by Aaron Moxam’s effort but that was easily gathered by the keeper.

Rainworth are known for their generosity and a misplaced pass in the 6th minute saw Benjamin Joyce through on goal and only an excellent full length save by Ben Townsend prevented Thackley from taking the lead.

On sixteen minutes a fine Buxton cross was headed wide by Moxam and a minute later Thackley had taken the lead. It came when a long ball found Ryan Farrell, who appeared to be offside but when the assistant’s flag remained down he evaded Townsend’s attempts to block his shot and made no mistake from close range.

Whilst Rainworth were unlucky for what seemed a poor decision, they had a stroke of good fortune in the 24th minute when Farrell’s shot beat Townsend only to strike the upright and rebound to safety.

There was another close call when Joyce’s effort just flew inches past the upright, whilst at the other end Danny Claridge’s cross was inches too high for debutant Tomas Poole.

At this point Rainworth were struggling to put together a sustained period of possession and things got even worse when Claridge had to go off injured being replaced by Carter Widdowson.

Rainworth did have the final two efforts of the half when Moxam firstly tried to bend one into the top corner which went wide and then had his goal bound effort blocked by the keeper.

The first action of the second half saw Steve Wankiewicz just get to a ball before Daniel Broadbent at the expense of a corner.

Rainworth’s generosity almost gifted Joyce, but Townsend was able to turn it round the post.

Rainworth had to bring on Nathan Clarke to replace Steve Mansell who picked up an injury.

An excellent Thackley move in the 54th minute almost created a second but Broadbent was inches from converting Farrell’s cross.

There then followed a sustained period of Rainworth pressure but Moxam’s effort was straight at the keeper as was Declan Brewin’s when he tried to place his effort.

Rainworth made their final substitution on 65 minutes bringing on Nathan Clarke for Jack Hutchinson. They thought they had equalised on 67 minutes when an excellent ball from Moxam and Buxton headed home, only for it to be disallowed for offside.

Thackley’s relief was short lived when Poole’s free-kick was headed home by Rob Ludlam.

Rainworth continued to press and Brewin hit his effort well over and Widdowson’s cross was headed into the keeper’s arms by Buxton and when Brewin’s effort warmed the keeper’s hands, they seemed like the team most likely to score.

On 84 minutes however Rainworth’s bad habits re-emerged when Thackley reacted first to a blocked free-kick and Broadbent had the easiest of tasks of heading home.

Four minutes later the game was over when the move of the match gave Thackley their third as Farrell’s excellent cross was slid in by Joyce.

As the whistle went for full time Rainworth had once again failed to keep a clean sheet, something that must be remedied very quickly.